Game 11 Preview: Iowa at Toledo

‘Landers gun for points in three straight, visit Toledo for back-to-back

Toledo, OH – The Iowa Heartlanders (2-6-2-0, 6 pts.) kick off a three-game road trip at the division rival Toledo Walleye (6-4-0-0, 12 pts.) Friday at 6:15 p.m. The Heartlanders have points in two straight games and are looking for a franchise record third consecutive contest earning at least a point.In Iowa’s last game, the team suffered an overtime loss to the Kalamazoo Wings, 3-2, despite tying the game twice. Kris Bennett continued his hot streak, scoring his team-leading sixth goal in five games, and three in his last two. Jake Linhart scored his second goal in his last three games, and Hunter Jones tied a career-high in saves with 41.Toledo snapped a three-game losing streak Sunday, defeating the Indy Fuel, 7-4. They scored four goals in a span of 5:26 in the second to take a commanding lead. The Walleye shared the love as six players recorded a goal with nine tallying an assist. Billy Christopoulos recorded his third win of the year and recorded a season-high 30 saves.This is the third of the nine times the two clubs will face off this year. Toledo is winning the season series, 2-0-0-0, with the most recent matchup coming in a 5-2 victory October 30 in Coralville. Iowa tied the game, 2-2, going into the final period, but Toledo scored three unanswered in the third, including an empty-net goal. Toledo’s Marcus Vela recorded his second hat trick of the season. Forward Cole Golka scored his first and only two goals of the season for the Heartlanders in defeat.Iowa visits Toledo in the team’s next game on Sat., Nov. 20 at 6:15 p.m. The Heartlanders complete the road trip at Ft. Wayne on Sun., Nov. 21 at 4:00 p.m.The Heartlanders are next at home for another Staybridge Suites home stand Nov. 24, Nov. 26 and Nov. 27. Iowa hosts Kansas City at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday the 24th, then faces Wheeling in back-to-back games on Black Friday and Saturday the 27th, with all puck drops at 7:00 p.m.  Season ticket memberships, group tickets, mini-plans, flex vouchers and single-game tickets are available for the Heartlanders inaugural season by calling 319-569-GOAL and visiting iowaheartlanders.com/tickets.Broadcast Coverage: Listen at Iowaheartlanders.com/listenlive or mixlr.com/goheartlanders. Watch on FloHockey.tv. NHL Affiliates: Iowa Heartlanders (Minnesota Wild/Iowa Wild) | Toledo Walleye (Detroit Red Wings/Grand Rapids Griffins)Storylines:- After this weekend’s set, Toledo and Iowa play three in a row against each other in Coralville, starting December 8. The Heartlanders play at Toledo four times this campaign (Nov. 20, Jan. 21, Feb. 4).- This is the second “three-in-three” of the season for the Heartlanders. The next happens Jan. 7-9 vs. Rapid City. Iowa has six “three-in-threes” this campaign. Toledo has 14 three-in-threes this season, in part due to their regional proximity to traditional foes such as Fort Wayne (98 miles), Kalamazoo (151 miles), Cincinnati (203 miles), Indy (214 miles) and Wheeling (251 miles). Iowa’s closest opponent is 314 miles away (Kansas City).- Heartlanders Head Coach Gerry Fleming is seeking his first ever win at the Huntington Center. The Walleye were known as the Toledo Storm during Fleming’s ECHL tenure in Florida (2001-08) and played at the Toledo Sports Arena. Toledo’s ECHL franchise went dormant for two seasons during the construction of the Huntington Center from 2007-09 and the Walleye became active for the 2009-10 season in the ECHL.